Organic September 2021

It's Organic September! a month long incentive to raise awareness of organic practices and products.

 photo: Rosemary Despres (rspb-images.com)

"Organic" refers to agricultural practices that actively work with nature as much as possible for environmentally friendly production using crop rotation, natural manures and embracing natural pest control. The concept avoids the use of artificial pesticides, fertilisers and livestock additives to have as little detrimental effect on our environment and to offer wildlife and livestock better welfare standards.

The Independent point out that : "According to the Soil Association,for a food or drink product to be labelled as organic, at least 95 per cent of the ingredients must come from organically produced plants or animals. This label can also be found on skincare, make-up and cleaning products too."  

Most of us are aware that organic is both better for the environment, wildlife and for us, but what about organic gardening, what does that actually mean we should be striving for as gardeners?

Simply put, it's using and replenishing natural resources as much as possible and avoiding the use of chemicals and artificial fertilisers and pesticides. It's the idea of respecting and gardening in harmony with nature rather than doing anything that is damaging or destructive towards the environment and it's wildlife. 

Here are a few organic gardening ideas you might like to try:

• Dig up /hoe weeds and mulch weed prone areas or make your own home made weed killers instead of using chemicals.
• Make your own compost instead of driving to the garden centre and buying it in plastic bags.
• Try some non-toxic, organic slug control and never use slug pellets which kill other animals such as birds, hedgehogs, dogs and domestic cats if they eat poisoned mice.
• Consider sewing some green manures to help suppress weeds and improve the soil.
• Use organic fertilisers rather than artificial commercial brands that don't improve the overall health of the soil.
• Install a water butt or two to hydrate your plants with natural rain water and save on using mains water.

There's more on organic growing from Garden Organic and the Soil Association, plus 10 organic gardening tips from Gardener's World. .. and you can also find out about organic food from BBC good food.

Sometimes going organic not only does better (for nature) and feels better, but it tastes better too!

For more inspiration on wildlife gardening, the Flatford Wildlife Garden, is currently open every day until October from 10.30am – 4.30pm. Entrance to the garden is free and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Car parking is £5 at the Flatford National Trust car park and this gives you access to the stunning countryside walks around Flatford in Constable Country.